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Car shipping company lookup

Check any auto transport company before you book. Enter its USDOT number, MC number or name to see if it is licensed, insured and in good standing with the FMCSA — with red flags explained in plain English.

Examples: 2239816 (USDOT) · MC-795152 · or part of the company name. You'll find the numbers on the company's website, quote or contract.

Carrier

Sterling Auto Carriers Inc

USDOT 2777033 MC-924660 Montrose, CO (970) 787-6697

Email

Check the flagged items before you book

2 things are worth asking the company about. None of them alone means a scam.

What we checked

  • USDOT number is active

    The company's federal registration is current.

  • Operating authority is active

    Authorized for hire across state lines as a carrier (it can haul cars itself) under MC-924660.

  • Authority was taken away in August 2026

    Authority suspended by FMCSA on Aug 20, 2026: insurance cancellation effective; no active insurance meeting minimum coverage on file. It is active again now. The usual cause is lapsed insurance — ask for a current certificate of insurance.

  • Liability insurance on file

    $1,000,000 of liability coverage is filed with FMCSA (required minimum: $750,000).

  • Cargo insurance not filed with FMCSA

    Federal rules don't require most carriers to file cargo coverage, so this is common. Ask for a certificate of insurance showing cargo coverage above your car's value.

  • No safety rating

    FMCSA has never audited this carrier. That is normal — most carriers are never rated.

  • In business for 11 years

    Registered with FMCSA since July 2015.

  • Out-of-service rate well above the national average

    18 inspections in 24 months. Vehicles were put out of service in 28.6% of inspections (national average 22.26%), drivers in 16.7% (national average 6.67%). Trucks or drivers put out of service at a roadside inspection had defects serious enough to stop them on the spot.

  • 0 reported crashes in the last 24 months

    No crashes were reported to FMCSA in the last two years.

Company details

Contact

Address
12125 5975 Rd, Montrose, CO 81403-8185
Mailing address
Po Box 350, Firestone, CO 80520
Phone
(970) 787-6697
Email
accounting@sterlingautocarriers.com

Company

Legal name
Sterling Auto Carriers Inc
Business type
Authorized for hire
Company officers
Jon Ullrich, Troy Sterkel
Process agent (BOC-3)
Owner Operator Services Inc — Grain Valley, MO
USDOT issued
Jul 1, 2015
Last MCS-150 update
Sep 8, 2026

Operations

Operation
Interstate (can cross state lines)
Cargo it hauls
General freight, Motor vehicles, Motor Vehicles
Trucks
6 power units
Drivers
6 (6 with a CDL)
Miles driven a year
913,142 (2025)

Safety record, last 24 months

18Roadside inspections
28.6%Vehicle out-of-service rate
National average 22.26%
16.7%Driver out-of-service rate
National average 6.67%
0Crashes
0 with injuries · 0 fatal

Roadside inspections

Police and state inspectors stop trucks to check the vehicle and the driver. Out of service means a problem serious enough to stop the truck or driver on the spot.

DateStateInspectionViolationsOut of service
Jun 4, 2026CODriver only (III)7No
Mar 8, 2026ILDriver only (III)1Driver
Feb 15, 2026COWalk-around (II)2Vehicle
Jan 2, 2026IADriver only (III)1No
Dec 22, 2025NMWalk-around (II)0No
Oct 30, 2025GADriver only (III)1No
Oct 17, 2025OHDriver only (III)3Driver
Sep 4, 2025MSDriver only (III)0No
Sep 4, 2025IAWalk-around (II)1No
Sep 2, 2025MDWalk-around (II)1Vehicle
Jul 17, 2025UTDriver only (III)1No
Jul 17, 2025ORFull (Level I)4No
Jun 14, 2025ARDriver only (III)2No
Jun 3, 2025NYDriver only (III)0No
May 27, 2025CODriver only (III)0No
Apr 10, 2025NCDriver only (III)1No
Feb 13, 2025OHWalk-around (II)1No
Oct 30, 2024CAFull (Level I)4Driver

Crashes

No crashes were reported in the last 24 months.

Insurance and bonds

On file now

TypeInsurerPolicyLimitEffective
Liability (BIPD)Great West Casualty CoGRT08269A$1,000,000Aug 10, 2026

Ask the company for a certificate of insurance and check that the insurer and policy number match this table.

Past policies

Earlier filings, newest first. Cancelled, no replacement means coverage stopped with no new policy in place — a gap in insurance.

TypeInsurerFromUntilHow it ended
Liability (BIPD)Great West Casualty CoJul 21, 2026Aug 10, 2026Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)Great West Casualty CoSep 10, 2023Jul 21, 2026Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)Protective Insurance CompanySep 10, 2022Sep 10, 2023Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)Northland Insurance CompanyJun 25, 2021Sep 10, 2022Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)Northland Insurance CompanySep 10, 2017Jun 25, 2021Cancelled, another policy took over
Liability (BIPD)Artisan & Truckers Casualty CompanySep 21, 2015Sep 10, 2017Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)Artisan & Truckers Casualty CompanySep 10, 2015Sep 21, 2015Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)United Financial Casualty CompanyAug 15, 2015Aug 12, 2015Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)United Financial Casualty CompanyAug 12, 2015Sep 10, 2015Replaced by a new policy

Operating authority history

Every change FMCSA recorded to the company's license to operate, newest first.

  • Granted or reinstated
  • Warning, resolved
  • Revoked or suspended
  • Other
  1. Authority reinstated Carrier
  2. Authority suspended by FMCSA Carrier

    Insurance cancellation effective; no active insurance meeting minimum coverage on file.

  3. Revocation notice Carrier

    Resolved on Jun 3, 2021 — the company kept its authority.

  4. Authority granted Carrier

Source: FMCSA records published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, checked 23 hours ago. Authority and insurance come from Motus, FMCSA's current registration system. This report reflects public federal data only; it is not an endorsement or a guarantee of service.

What the lookup checks

Eight things to know before you hand over your keys

Every interstate car shipping company is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The lookup reads that record and flags what matters to you as a customer.

  1. USDOT status

    Every company that moves vehicles across state lines needs an active USDOT number. Inactive means it has stopped operating or was shut down.

  2. Operating authority (MC number)

    Federal permission to ship cars for pay. Carriers hold carrier authority; brokers hold broker authority. No active authority, no legal interstate shipping.

  3. Liability insurance

    Carriers must keep at least $750,000 of liability coverage on file with the FMCSA. Most auto haulers carry $1,000,000.

  4. Broker bond

    Brokers must file a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund. It protects customers and carriers if the broker doesn't pay.

  5. Out-of-service orders

    An FMCSA order to stop operating — after failed safety audits, unpaid fines or an imminent hazard.

  6. Safety rating and crashes

    Satisfactory, Conditional or Unsatisfactory after an FMCSA audit, plus crashes reported in the last 24 months.

  7. Time in business

    Scammers rarely keep a name for long. A registration only weeks or months old deserves extra caution.

  8. Carrier or broker

    Whether the company hauls your car itself or books a partner carrier — and whether it is actually registered to carry vehicles.

Beyond the records

Car shipping scam red flags

A clean FMCSA record is the minimum. These warning signs matter just as much — most car shipping complaints start with one of them.

  • A quote far below everyone else's. Lowball quotes get raised after booking or sit with no carrier for weeks. Compare with our car shipping cost calculator.
  • A big deposit by wire, Zelle or gift card. Reputable companies take $0–$250 upfront, usually by card, and the rest at pickup or delivery.
  • A name that doesn't match the record. The legal name or DBA on the FMCSA record should match the website, the contract and the truck.
  • "Guaranteed" pickup dates from a broker. A broker can't promise a date until a carrier is assigned — get the date in writing and ask who the carrier is.
  • No written contract or Bill of Lading. Inspect the car with the driver and sign the Bill of Lading at pickup and delivery — our car shipping checklist has a printable inspection form.

FAQ

Checking a car shipping company

Want companies that already passed these checks? Browse verified companies by state.

How do I check if a car shipping company is legit?

Look up its USDOT or MC number. A legitimate company has an active USDOT number, active operating authority (MC) as a carrier or broker, and insurance or a broker bond on file with the FMCSA. Then make sure the name on the record matches the company you are talking to, and be wary of any company registered in the last few months that asks for a large deposit.

What is the difference between a USDOT number and an MC number?

The USDOT number identifies the company and tracks its safety record, inspections and crashes. The MC number is its operating authority — federal permission to transport vehicles for pay across state lines. An interstate car shipping company needs both, and both must be active.

Where do I find a company's USDOT or MC number?

Licensed companies show them on their website (usually in the footer), in quotes and contracts, on the Bill of Lading and on the side of their trucks. If a company won't give you its USDOT or MC number, don't book with it.

Is it a red flag if the company is a broker?

No. Most online car shipping companies are brokers: they book your car with a partner carrier that runs the route. A legitimate broker has active broker authority and a $75,000 bond on file. Ask which carrier will haul your car and check that carrier too.

What insurance must a car shipping company have?

Interstate carriers must file at least $750,000 of liability insurance with the FMCSA (many auto haulers carry $1,000,000). Brokers must file a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund. Cargo insurance — the policy that pays for damage to your car — often isn't filed with the FMCSA, so ask for a certificate of insurance and check that the cargo limit covers your car's value.

What does "out of service" mean?

An out-of-service order is an FMCSA order to stop operating immediately, usually after an unsatisfactory safety rating, unpaid fines or an imminent hazard. A company under an active order must not move your car.

Where does this data come from and how current is it?

From the FMCSA's own records, published daily by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Results are refreshed at least every 12 hours. For a final check before you pay, you can also open the company's FMCSA SAFER snapshot from the report.